Secondary battery



(No Model.)

W. W. GRISGOM. SECONDARY BATTERY Patented June 9,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SECON DARY BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. ,453,695, dated June 9, 1891. Application filed December 10, 1887. Serial No. 357.512. (No model.)

To all whomiib may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM \VOODNUT'I G'RISCOM; a citizen of the United States, residing at llaverford College, in the county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Secondary Batteries, of which the following-is a description.

My invention relates to improvements in electric accumulators or secondary batteries; and it consists, broadly, in assembling the component parts of a cell-thatis to say. the positive and negative elements, (or multiples thereof) in a strong closed chamber. According to my invention the elements are in the form of masses of dough or paste,- the positive being a mixture of dilute'sulphurie acid and peroxide of lead and the negative r being composed of dilute sulphuric acid and :0 spongy lead, the positive and negative material being substantially such'as is formed upon. the positive and negative plates of a lead batteryby the Plant method of forming.

The walls of the inelosing chamber are lined 2 5 with lead or coated with some non-corrosive substance to prevent the acid 'attackin g them,

7 and the said chamber is divided by a porous diaphragm of any suitable insulating material.

The masses constituting the elements of the 3b battery are covered with an electrolyte composed of dilute sulphuric acid and charged by the passage of a current therethrough until polarized.

So farthe process of charging my improved storage-battery is similar to that in'eommon use, and my novel elements may be used as well in an open as in a closed vessel. When the elements are completely polarized,as evi- .deneed by the giving off of the gases, oxygen 4e and hydrogen from the respective masses, the process of charging necessarily terminates, since the further passage of current through the battery would not increase the polarization of the elements andwould byeleetrolytie action decompose and consume the liquid surrounding or covering the elements. The 'action of the gases oxygen and hydrogen upon the respective elements of a secondary or polarization battery polarizes them and places them in the condition in which they are ready to give forth an electric current-and are said .to be charged. It follows, 1-herei'ore,ihat

by supplying oxygen to thepositive plate and hydrogen to the negative plate the process of polarization will continue as long as the gases are supplied, and that a current may be taken from the said elements so long as oxygen and hydrogen exist in proximity thereto. T0 atand negative elements in a very strong receptacle divided byan insulating porous partition, on each side of which one of the active masses is placed. A quantity of dilute sulphuric acid is added, suflicient to cover the masses of active material. It is desirable that the air-space above the normal level of the electrolyte shall be larger on the negative than on the positive side in order to preserve the ratio between and prevent mixing of the gases produced by decomposition of the water in the electrolyte, allowing twieens much space for the hydrogen as for the oxygen to accommodate its greater quantity.

derstood' having been completed, I continue the supply of current until. any desired portion of the entire quantity o f fluid in the battery has been separated into the gases hydrogen and oxygen, the oxygen remaining on the positive side of the diaphragm and the hydrogen on the negative side. The evolution of great quantities of gas must of course produce an enormous tension within the closed chamber, and said chamber is designed to be of astrength suilicient to withstand the same, as will be hereinafter explained. \Vhen the'electrolyte has been entirely decomposed. the battery is operative as a simple gas-battery, it being well known that the action of' the gases oxygen and hydrogen separately upon suitable electrodes'will produce a powerful electric current. This action will continue until by their action upon the electrodes the gases recombine and form again into water,'replacing the electrolyte. \Vhen is completed, the electrolyte will be again in position and the discharge will continue as from an ordinary secondary battery, thus producing a prolonged and intensified effect not heretofore attained.

The details of construction and arrangeand referred to in the appended claims.

the discharge of the battery as a gas-battery tain this further effect, I inclose the positive The operation of charging as ordinarily un- 4 meut will be hereinafter fully pointed out.

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In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a closed battery jar or chamber embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation 'thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail showing the construction of one of the clamps. Fig. 4 ihows another form of the batteryjar or cham- Similar letters and figures denote like parts throughout.

As illustrated in the drawings, the closed. chamber or jar A, containing the elements of my improved secondary battery, is composed oftwo semi-spherical metallic partsB 0, each of which is provided on opposite sides with .two or more lugs 11 C, The lugsare preferablyof segmentalform and undercut, as shown, and adapted to receive strong metallicclamps D, by which th y are joined andforeibly drawn together for uniting-the parts of the battery and securely holding them in position. i

' The depending edges D of the clamps D said'lugs are placed in juxtaposition and a rotary movement imparted to the clamps they will slip along the faces of the said lugs and as they are turned will draw them closer together.

The clamps D are lined with insulating material cl to prevent electrical connection between the parts B C, andprovided with a square portion (1 to receive a wrench for turning them into position.

The entire surfaces of the sections B C are desirably provided with a lining E F of lead, although any non-corrosive material or sub: stance will answer the purpose. A washeror gasket G, of vulcanized fiber or other strong insulating material, is formed to fit in and close the joint. between the sections B C, which for increased strength and security are tapered inward, so as to be wider on their inner than their outer edges, rendering it impossible that the gasket G should be displaced and blown out byt-hc internal pressure so long as the parts are held together by the clamps D.

The interior of the cell A is divided into two parts by a po ous insulating'diaphragm II, which may be of two perforated sheets h of vulcanized fiber, hard rubber, or similar substance, between which is placed a filling I of sand, pumice-stone, or other non-absorbent material. The diaphragm ll may he socured to the gasket G and be conveniently removed or replaced together therewith.

J and K represent masses of paste or dough formed, respectively, of dilute sulphuric acid and peroxide of lead and dilute sulphuric acid and spongy lead.

An opening L is formed at any convenientpoint on the upper portion of the cell A and closed by a valve or plug 1.

Binding-posts P N are secured upon the exterior of the cell Ain any convenient man ner and are in electrical connection with the interior lead coating or with the elements themselves. Conductois 1 2 extend from the binding-posts to the source of charging-current or to thebreaking-cireuit.

When the respective compartments of the cell A have been charged with their respect ive masses 01' elements J and K, the parts. are united and the cell closed by the application of the clamps G upon the lugs 12 C, the plug Zis loosened-and moved toone side of the opening L, through which a sufiicient quantity of dilute sulphuric acid is then poured into the cell to completely cover themasses of active material, after which the plug 1 is replaced in position to close the opening L and the battery is ready for charging. In-view of the fact that in the decomposition of water two volumes of hydrogen are evolved for oneof oxygen, it is desirable toprovide a larger air-space on the negative sideof the diaphragm II. This maybe accomplishedin several. ways, a very simple one of whiehbeing illustrated.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the cell is shown as supported in an inclined position,

so that the space above the surface of the electrolyte is unequally divided by the diaphragm H into two compartments, one, the negative or hydrogen side, being about twice the size of the other. A small hollow wooden base or stand M is provided and formed to receive the spherical body A, in which stand said body can be placed in any position,the one shown being merely a convenientone for the purpose in view. It will also be entirely obvious that the diaphragm ll may be so curved or positioned that when standing ,yert-ically there will be a larger space on one side of it than upon the other.

That part of my invention relating to the use of elements formed of active material in the form of masses of paste does not depend upon the utilization of a spherical or other form of closed chamber, but may be used in a vertical glass jar provided with a porous diaphragm. Such an organization is shown in Fig. 4, 0 being the jar, Q, the porous diaphragm, J and K the positive and negative elements formed of masses of active material. 1" is the electrolyte with which the elements are covered. The charging and discharging of this form of battery are similar to that of those now in use, and a great improvement is found to result from entirely dispensing with the heavy leaden plates, bars, grids, &e., and the employment of active material in the form of masses of dough or paste readily polarized by the passage of an electric current.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In secondary batteries, an element-containing receptacle and electrical connections charging may extending thcreinto, said receptacle being closed,'whereby the gases produced by overbe retained therein, substantially as described.

2. In secondary batteries, an element-containing receptacle, electrical connections ex- =tendin g thereinto,'and a diaphragm extending ceptacles, one for each ofthe respective elements, said receptacles consisting partly of metal and partlyof non-conducting material,

substantially as described.

4. In secondary batteries,'a hermetically sealed or'closcd essel for containing the ,elements thereof, consisting partly of'metal and partly of porous non-condueti n g material, substantially as described.

5. In secondary batteries, a closed chamber formed of two receptacles for the respective -elements,'arrangcd side by side, and a porous non-conductin g diaphragm separating the two receptacles, substantially as described.

- battery,

(3. A vessel for the elements of a secondary consisting of two hollow metallic parts, a porous diaphragm arranged to be interposed bctween'and separate said parts, and

means,suhstantially as describcd,for uniting the-two parts to form a single closed chamber having a porous dividing-wall, substantially 35 as described.

' 7. A secondary battery comprising a vessel divided into separate compartments by a porous nonconducting diaphragm, a mass of peroxide of lead.in pnc compartment and a mass of spongy lead in the other compartment electric con nections extending from the respective masses to the exterior of the separate portions of the vessel, and an electrolyte common to and covering the masses of active nmierial in both compartments, snbstamially as described.

- S. A cell for containing the elements of a secondary battery, comprising two hollow metallic chambers, a gasket or packing of insulating material formed wider at its inner than at its outer edge and interposed between the metallic chambers, a porous diaphragm separating the chambers, and means,'subst-antially as described, {or mechanically uniting the metallic chambers to form a strong closed" pressure-proof cell, substantiallyasdescribed.

9. A cellfor containing the elements of a consisting of two semia porous non-consecondary battery, spherical metallic parts, ducting diaphragm arranged to be lnserte between the partsga suitable packingot 1nsulating material arranged to be placed be.- tween the contacting edges of =the some. spheres, and clamping devices, substantially as described, whereby the two parts of the chamber are firmly united and adapted to resist internal pressure, substantially as described. 1

10.. A cell for containing the elements of a secondary battery, comprising .two sem spherical parts, lugs on said parts arranged in positions opposite to each other, suitable clamps for uniting said lugs and oining the parts of the cell, a gasket or packing of insulating' material formed wider at its inner than at its outer edge, and a porous non-conducting diaphragm attached to said gasket and centrally dividing the chamber, substantially as described. p

ll. A cell for containing the elements of a secondary battery, comprising two strong metallic semi-spherical portions provided wltha lining of lead or other similar non-corrosrve material, a gasket of insulating material formed wider on its inner than upon its outer edge and arranged to fit into and close the jointbetween the two portionsof the cell, substantially as described. D r In testimony whereof I hereto atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\HhhlMl WOOD-NUT! GRISCOM. \Yituesst 2 Join Rononns, .l. GARRETT ASAY. 

